Sean Payton Talks Draft, Quarterback and Left Tackle Positions with WWL Radio

On the start to the offseason strength and conditioning program: “Right now we are strictly in a weightlifting and conditioning phase. It’s good to have our players back. Monday was our first chance to have a team meeting and my first chance to see a lot of these guys that I hadn’t met during this past year. In the meantime, the coaches are working on the playbooks and the installation schedules and really getting ready for OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and draft preparations.

“We feel like we have been able to sign some guys that we have a clear role for both offensively and defensively. We have been pretty patient in doing that and trying to find the best value in free agency. There are a handful of teams that are up against the cap that have to be really smart and we are one of those teams. Mickey (Loomis), Khai (Harley) and our people in our front office do a great job of understanding that and staying underneath (the salary cap) and understanding what we have to do as it pertains to the rookie class when they come in. All of that will take care of itself. The key for us right now in this next week and a half is finding the next five or six guys along with free agents we sign after the draft that can help this team going forward.”

On if signing QB Seneca Wallace will help the team in preparing to defend against mobile quarterbacks: “Seneca is mobile and can make plays with his feet. However, we signed him to compete for an opportunity to be our backup quarterback. I don’t think his signing is a reflection on us looking for the perfect scout team quarterback to resemble a few of the teams that we will see during the year. Finding that has been something that we have been able to do. Often times it’s with a guy on your roster that has played quarterback before who is now a receiver or a defensive back.

“We have a couple veteran quarterbacks in here with Luke (McCown) and Seneca that will have an opportunity to play if they had to. Both of them have had starts in their careers. We will see where they are at. Our team and front office are familiar with Luke having had him a year ago, not so much me because I wasn’t involved. Both Seneca and Luke are experienced. They are both smart guys. We will see where they are at.”

On the left tackle position: “We signed Jason Smith recently. Charles Brown is a guy that is going to be competing over there. This is a great example of a job that is wide open. Hopefully the guys that have a chance to compete for that position step up and someone separates themselves. That kind of thing happened when (Jermon) Bushrod came into that position in our scrimmages against the Texans (in 2009). We lost our starter there and Jermon stepped in and really earned the spot and became our starting left tackle for quite a while. I think time will tell. We have some guys that will get reps at that position. Hopefully it’s an easy decision and someone separates themselves.”